Battle Studies : John Mayer (A Review)

This is my first stab at an album review. I may have analyzed it too much but i found some interesting details which I couldn't leave out. With that said please enjoy!

For all John Mayer fans out there, this album continues the familiar sound he stuck to throughout the decade. While different instruments are occasionally used, the main focus remains his lyrical, blues guitar genius.
The first track, "Heartbreak Warfare" opens with strings fading in followed by delayed guitar. Reviews have said this delayed effect is reminiscent of that of U2's The Edge. This adopted sound sets the mood for the remainder of the album, where lyrics seem to back up the soulful, blues guitar.

Although the romantic, blue guitar themes prevail on the majority of his new record, Mayer's sense of humor does reveal itself on the tracks "Half of My Heart" and "Who Says." In fact, on "Half of My Heart," Mayer teams up with Taylor Swift and sings about loving someone while always looking for someone else. On "Who Says," one of my personal favorites, and seemingly one of the most down to earth tracks of the album, Mayer gives a little insight to his opinion of marijuana use. The brilliant line "I don't remember you looking any better, but then again I don't remember you" repeats throughout the songs entirety and focuses the listener on the effects of the drug and Mayer’s use himself.

John Mayer seems to rely more heavily on outside inspiration for his music than his previous albums. Previously he covered Tom Petty’s “Free Falling,” but this time he covers Robert Johnson's "Crossroads." Many artists over the decades have covered this song, most notably Eric Clapton. However this song is, for any blues guitarist, almost a required cover. In comparing John Mayer's cover to that of Eric Clapton’s his is significantly slower and closer to the blues roots of the song, rather than the funk infused style of Eric Clapton's band Cream. However Mayer add his own twist when he opts to solo during the song. Instead of showing off his prowess over that of Eric Clapton and Rober Johnson, Mayer plays under the original sound and chorus of the song, rather than play over and show off. He thus maintains the respect of his followers while producing an original unique sound to a classic song.

Battle Studies may not be John Mayer's greatest album, but it's a worthy addition to his already impressive repertoire, and definitely worth a listen.

Well that's a wrap,

Tom